Animal trap



Aug. 19, 1941. D. L WARNER 2,253,254 l I ANIMAL TRAP Filed sept. 16.1940

Patented Aug. 19, 1941 I UNITED STATES PATENT l fOFFICE Y" `2,253,254 `ff'pf A vANIMAL TRAP v f, l

` Daniel L. Warner, Romae, 111.A i Application September 16, 1940, Serial No. 356,9 25

(c1. V4361 t 2 Claims.

My invention relates to animal traps. While the trap has 'been designed particularly for use in catching rats, it is obvious that it may be used also for trapping other animals.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide an animal trap so designed as not to arouse the animals suspicion of danger.

Another object is to provide an animal trap so designed that the latch and trigger apparatus are not prominent.

Another object is to provide an animal trap so designed as to insure that the animal is completely Within the enclosurefbefore the trap is sprung.

Another object is to provide a trap so designed that the trigger platform does not attract attention.

Further -objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description and claims.

In the drawing, in which an embodiment of my invention is shown, l

Figure 1 is a plan View of an animal trap, parts being broken away; and

Fig. 2 is a sectional view substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the construction shown comprises an elongated rectangular enclosure which may be formed of wire mesh having top I, bottom 2, sides 3v and 4 and ends 5 and 6. The enclosure has a rectangular opening at one end which may extend completely across the end and from the bottom about two-f thirds of the way up to the top. A door 'I is provided for closing this opening pivoted adjacent its upper edge, as indicated at 8, and movable from a raised open position inside the enclosure, as shown in 2, to a position in which it closes the opening. A spring 9 may be provided for closing the door when it is released from the latch. A latch is provided for latching the door in closed position, comprising a latch pin IU slidably mounted in a strap II riveted to the inside of the door and a catch plate I2 secured to the bottom of the cage. The latch pin I has a handle portion I3 which extends through a slot I4 in the door so that the latch can be released readily from the outside to enable it to be lifted int-o position to be latched. When the door is released from the latch which holds it open, it is swung downwardly by the spring 9 into closed position. The lower end of the latch pin I0 engages the latch plate I2 in the final closing movement and is lifted up by sliding along the latch plate until the latch pin I0 has passed the edge of the latch plate I2,' whereupon it drops down into latching engagement with the edge of the plate.

The latch means for holding the door l in raised open position comprises a bar I5 extending longitudinally of the enclosure and a pair of spacedswinging suspension links I6 pivotally con# nected to the bar I5 and extending upwardly therefrom, and pivotally connected at Ilia with the top of the cage. This pivotal connection with the top of the cage may be made by bending the ends of the links about the transverse mesh Wires. The latching means has a portion movable into and out of latching engagement with the door. This may be accomplished by bending the end I1 of the left-hand swinging link I6 so as to engage underneath the edge of the swinging door. 'Ihe pressure of the door on the latch hook II holds the latch in engaged position until it is released bythe trigger mechanism hereinafter described. This trigger mechanism comprises a platform I8 pivotally mounted at I9 adjacent the edge nearest the door, and a link 2U vpivotally connected at 2| with the swinging edge of the platform and also pivotally connected at 22 with the longitudinally movable bar.

A bait receptacle 23 may be provided on the side of the platform remote from the door, thus insuring that the animal will step on the trigger platform before he gets to the bait. A slide door 24 may be provided at the upper rear end of the enclosure, through which bait may be placed in the bait receptacle, and through which the animal may be removed.

In use, the trap is set as indicated in Fig. 2, with the door 1 held in raised position by the latch projection I'I engaging underneath the edge of the door. This latching may be accomplished in various Ways but one Way by which the door may be easily latched is to push the doorl inwardly and upwardly above the latching position, and then hold the enclosure at such an inclination that gravity Will swing the latching projection I1 underneath the edge of the door and then allow the door to swing downwardly until its swinging edge is engaged by the latching projection II. The trap thus set is placed in any desired location. The animal, attracted by the bait in the cage, enters the opening and advances toward the bait receptacle. As the trigger platform I8 is pivoted at the end nearest the door and as its axis is very close to the floor line, it offers no obstruction to the animals progress and does not arouse his suspicion. The weight of the animal on the trigger platform tends to swing the longitudinally-movable bar I5 to the right, as

viewed in Fig. 2`, drawing the latching projection I1 out from underneath the edge of the swinging door. The right-hand link I6 and the link 20 together form a toggle mechanism which, when straightened out, moves the latch bar I5 to the right. As soon as the swinging door is released. it snaps downwardly into latching engagement with the latch plate.

It is obvious that a multiple compartment trap might be made by adding other compartments, either side by side or end to end.

I claim:

1. An animal trap comprising an enclosure having an opening at one end, a door for closing said opening pivoted adjacent its upper edge and'.

movable from a raised open position inside the enclosure to a position in which it closes said opening, latching means for holding the door in raised open position comprising a, bar extending longitudinally of the enclosure and a pair of spaced swinging suspension links pivotally connectedA to said bar and extending upwardly therefrom, said latching means comprising a portion movable into and out of latching engagement with the door and trigger means for releasing said latch comprising a pivotedplatform on which the animal steps, and a link pivotally con'- nected at one end with the pivoted platform and pivotally connected at its other end with the longitudinally-extending bar, said last link and one of said upwardly-.extending links together forming a toggle which, when straightened out, releases said latching means.

2. An animal trap comprising an enclosure having an opening at one end, a door for closing said opening pivoted adjacent its upper edge and movable from a raised open position inside the enclosure to a position in which it closes said opening, latching means for holding the door in raised open position comprising a latching member, and means for supporting, guiding, and re- 'a leasing said latching member comprising a toggle. mechanism, one link of which has its lower end pivotally connected with said latching member and its upper endk pivotally supported by said enclosure, the other link of the toggle having its upper end pivotally connected with said latchi-n'g member, and a pivoted platform onto which the animal steps, to which platform the lower end of said other link is pivotally secured whereby downward movement of the platform straightens out the toggle and releases the latching member.

DANIEL L. WARNER. 

